SEAL BEACH : City Budget Contains Only Minor Cuts

City Manager Jerry L. Bankston is set this week to unveil a new budget that, thanks to the recently approved increase in the utility-users tax, does not contain sharp reductions in services.

Bankston said that without the increase in the tax paid on monthly gas, electric and telephone bills, the city’s nearly $2-million budget shortfall would have been reduced through massive cuts in city services, spending and personnel.

With the utility-users tax increase in place, Bankston said the city will be able to get by with only minor cutbacks. He said the city will attempt to generate extra revenue by reopening its jail booking facility.

Bankston said the budget, which will total between $11 million and $12 million, should include money to replace several police cars that have more than 100,000 miles on them. He said the city hopes to buy the new cruisers with drug forfeiture funds.

The council is scheduled to examine the budget over the next few weeks and vote on the proposal later this summer.

Last month, the council voted to increase the utility-users tax from 5% to 11%. The move is expected to generate more than $1 million in revenue.